# Age-proofing Aotearoa — Rethinking our infrastructure for an ageing population

- Document ID: doc-0218
- Publisher: Helen Clark Foundation and WSP
- Catalogue publication date: 19 October 2025
- Physical pages in preserved PDF: 55
- Original capture/access label: June 2026
- Primary-source review: 9 October 2026

[Preserved bundled original](/pdfs/2025%20-%20WSP%20HCF%20-%20Age-Proofing%20Aotearoa.pdf) · [Primary publisher](https://www.helenclark.foundation/research/age-proofing-aotearoa) · [Primary PDF reviewed](https://helenclark.foundation/app/uploads/2025/10/THCF-Report-AGE-PROOFING-AOTEAROA.pdf)

## What this document contributes

Kali Mercier’s Helen Clark Foundation/WSP report examines how housing, transport, aged care, health facilities and public spaces could respond to an ageing population. It recommends coordinated long-term leadership, better regional projections and accessible communities that support independence and connection. Its population forecasts and care-demand scenarios use dated assumptions rather than guaranteed outcomes. A material source conflict needs caution: regional care-bed comparisons are labelled 65+ in the executive summary, 85+ in the body and 80+ in the detailed Sapere figure cited. This catalogue preserves the original 55-page PDF containing spreads; the current publisher serves a differently paginated 108-page PDF. The report’s October 2025 recommendations are not evidence of policy adoption or current care capacity.

## Substantive findings

- Published 19 October 2025 by Helen Clark Foundation/WSP; author Kali Mercier is acknowledged as WSP Fellow and foundation Deputy Director. The preserved PDF has 55 physical pages, including spreads.
- Using 2024 Stats NZ projection scenarios, the report gives 1.4–1.6 million people aged 65+ in 2051 and 2–2.5 million in 2078; ranges and projection vintage must remain explicit (physical p.12).
- Recommendations include coordinated long-term cross-government leadership, infrastructure planning informed by ageing, and improved regional population projections (physical p.9).
- Age-friendly housing, mixed-use neighbourhoods, transport alternatives, seating, toilets and accessible walking environments are discussed alongside health and care infrastructure (physical pp.9–10).
- The 149 Northland / 272 Canterbury ARC-bed comparison is labelled per 1,000 aged 65+ in WSP’s executive (physical p.7 / printed p.3), but 85+ in its body (physical p.29 / printed pp.47–48). The detailed original Sapere Figure 14/body use 80+, 2022/23 data and historic DHB geography; the denominator conflict is unresolved in WSP.
- The cited 40–84% ARC-demand growth to 2039/40 comes from July 2024 Phase 2 model scenarios for individuals, not a measured bed shortfall. The almost-12,000-bed 2032 comparison comes from a separate January 2024 historical-build/constant-utilisation model.
- Telehealth is discussed with limits involving continuity, digital access and possible extra work for rural staff; it is not shown here to guarantee care access or cost savings (physical p.34).
- The current primary PDF has 108 single physical pages and a different hash/pagination from this 55-page spread original. The preserved original determines catalogue pageCount and page references.

## Identity, dates and provenance

Official publisher and report acknowledgement date: 19 October 2025. June 2026 original capture remains distinct from 9 October 2026 review.

The original PDF and filename are preserved. Its SHA-256 is `c29d7da7beefb974763bd1a3d2d4ba997efa12d82c186c036320f1292ff114ab` (17,021,896 bytes). The current primary URL redirects to a 108-page single-page PDF with a different hash and pagination. The original 55-page spread file is preserved; edition equivalence is not assumed from title alone.

## Where to check the original

Physical pp.5,7,9–10,12,29,34; printed executive p.3 and body spread pp.47–48. Double-page spreads mean printed and physical pagination differ.

## Evidence limits

October 2025 infrastructure recommendations and dated projection/model scenarios, not enacted policy or current bed capacity. WSP and underlying Sapere executive/body age denominators conflict; detailed Sapere Figure 14 uses 80+, 2022/23 and historic DHB geography. Demand individuals, available beds and projected shortfalls are distinct. Preserved 55-page spread PDF differs from current 108-page publisher PDF.

This companion is an evidence guide, not a replacement original, a new survey or a statement that historical proposals were implemented.

Repository research fixture `artifacts/research/seniors-social-demography-2026-10-09.json` records source identities, hashes, physical page evidence and publisher-date distinctions.

Repository primary-source audit `artifacts/research/msd-ltib-ageproofing-primary-source-audit-2026-10-09.json` records the draft correction, final-version search limitations and detailed Sapere denominator/scenario evidence.